Supporting Communication with Patients who have COVID-19

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With the rapid spread of COVID-19, providers including nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals are working around the clock to ensure the safety and treatment of their patients. Unfortunately, many of these patients require intubation or other escalated respiratory support, resulting in an inability to speak. Hospitals and healthcare workers across the country need resources and strategies to support communication in alternative ways.

The Patient-Provider Communication Forum, with the support of the United States Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC), is providing a FREE bank of communication supports to patients and their health care workers during this unprecedented time of need.

Included in the bank of free resources are:

  • Downloadable health care communication boards to support patients of different ages, abilities, and languages (e.g., English and bilingual)
  • Embedded in each tool are instructions for health care providers and other communication partners to support the presentation of the boards, even if the patient has difficulty pointing or seeing.
  • Additional considerations to support patient-provider communication for patients on invasive or non-invasive ventilation
  • Additional resources to COVID-19 related material, training videos, and organizations providing FREE or discounted tools

Please share with members of your hospital community, nurses, physicians, speech-language pathologists, or any other key stakeholders!